JPH06183417A - Film feeding device for packaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To shorten intervals of cycles in packaging for a packaging apparatus by reducing the intervals of cycles in film feeding. CONSTITUTION:An arm 55a trurns counterclockwise slightly and thereby a film holding device 3B holding the film F moves from a waiting position P4 to a film feeding position P5. The film F is interposed between an upper belt 61 and a lower belt 62 of a film feeder 6, then the film F is unwound. While the film F is being unwound, the arm 55a turns clockwise slightly, making the film holding device 3B return from the film feeding position P5 to the waiting position P4 and at the same time, the film F is cut with a cutter 21, and the next film feeding operation is made to be ready.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a packaging device for packaging products placed on trays with a film in a pack center or the like, and more particularly to a film supply device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a pack center for products for supermarkets, a packaging device for packaging a product (product to be packaged) placed on a tray with a stretch film is used. In this type of packaging device, the film is unwound from a film roll to a packaging station above the article to be packaged, the film is cut into a predetermined length, and then the article to be packaged is packaged (for example, JP-A-63-218025). (See the official gazette). FIG. 13 shows an example of a film supply device used in this type of packaging device.

In FIG. 13, the film F of the film roll FL is unwound toward the film feeder 6.
The film feeder 6 holds the film in a tensioned state.
A film F (not shown) is provided on the film feeder 6 side.
Is provided, the clamp moves to the right from the film feeder 6 and clamps the film F, and then returns to the film feeder 6 side to supply the film F to the film feeder 6. After this supply, the cutter 21 cuts the film F.

[0004]

However, the clamp provided on the film feeder 6 side moves to the film F side and returns to the film feeder 6 again as in the prior art described above. Long cycle times can result in long package cycle times. The present invention has been made in view of the above conventional problems, and an object thereof is to provide a film supply device capable of shortening the film supply cycle time in a packaging device.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises a film gripping machine for gripping the leading end portion of a film, and a gripping machine transporting device for transporting the film gripping machine. The gripper transporting device conveys the film gripper along the unwinding path of the film to the entrance of the film feeder, thereby inserting the film into the entrance of the film feeder, and while unwinding the film by the film feeder. Retract the film gripper.

[0006]

According to the present invention, the gripping machine transporting device retracts the film gripping machine while the film is being unwound by the film feeder, so that the film gripping machine is immediately moved to the entrance portion of the film feeder when one wrapping is completed. Transport to
The film can be fed to a film feeder.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a front layout of a packaging device, in particular a film supply device. In this figure, the packaging machine body 1
A pair of left and right film supply devices 2 and 2 are disposed on both sides of the. The film supply devices 2 and 2 are symmetrical to each other, and the left film supply device 2 will be mainly described below. The two film rolls FL on the left side are disposed on the side of the packaging machine main body 1 away from the packaging station S, and are arranged at positions above and below the film feeder 6. Each film roll FL is supported by two support rollers 20. The support roller 20 is rotationally driven by a motor (not shown), and allows the film F to be unwound from the film roll FL.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic structure of the film supply device 2. As shown in FIG.
A pair of film gripping machines 3A and 3B are provided. The film gripping machines 3A and 3B are provided so as to be movable diagonally along the guide rails 40A and 40B. Hereinafter, as for the film gripping machines 3A and 3B, the lower film gripping machine 3B will be mainly described.

As shown in FIG. 3, the film gripping machine 3B
Are provided in a pair on the left and right, and the front end portion F1
The film F is gripped by sandwiching.
The film gripping machine 3B has a lower gripping plate 31 fixed to the slider 50, and an upper gripping plate 32 rotatably provided on the lower gripping plate 31 around the hinge 30.

As shown in FIG. 4, the two grip plates 31, 3 are
Rubber plates 33 and 34 are adhered to 2 respectively, and the film F is sandwiched between the rubber plates 33 and 34 by the weight of the upper grip plate 32. The film gripping machine 3A, 3
As indicated by an arrow A in FIG. 2, B is an inlet portion of the film feeder 6 along the unwinding path of the film F by the first gripping machine transporting devices 4A and 4B and the second gripping machine transporting device 5. It is transported to 60.

The first gripping machine transfer devices 4A and 4B are
Each of them is provided with a gripper conveyor belt 41 that is rotationally driven by a motor (not shown), and the guide rails 40A and 40B provided along the gripper conveyor belt 41. The lifting frame 42 shown in FIG. 3 is attached to the gripper conveyor belt 41. At both ends of the elevating frame 42, conveyance rollers 43 which are guided by the guide rails 40A and 40B of FIG. 2 to roll are rotatably attached.

As shown in FIG. 3, the lifting frame 42 includes
A fixed base 51 is fixed on the left side, while a slide base 52 is attached on the right side. The slide base 52 is slidable in a guide groove 44 formed in the elevating frame 42, and is slidable in the width direction W of the film roll FL (FIG. 2).
It can be moved freely. A guide rod 53 is provided on the fixed base 51 and the slide base 52, and the slider 50 slides along the guide rod 53 in a direction B orthogonal to the width direction W of the film roll FL (FIG. 2). It is free to move. An engaged member 54 having a U-shaped cross section is fixed to the upper grip plate 32.

In FIG. 2, the second gripping machine transfer device 5 has an engagement pin 55 that engages with the engaged member 54 at the tip of the arm 55a. This arm 55a is
As shown in FIG. 5, when the arm 55a descends, the engagement pin 55 descends from the disengagement position P1 indicated by the solid line to the engagement position P2 indicated by the broken line. And engages with the engaged member 54. In this engaged state, the arm 55a slightly rotates counterclockwise to move the film gripper 3B together with the engaged member 54 to the right.

Next, the upper film gripping machine 3A in FIG.
The guide rail 40A will be described. The retracted end 40a of the guide rail 40A is notched upward. Therefore, as shown in this figure, when the transport roller 43 retreats to the retreat end portion 40a, as shown in FIG.
3 and film gripping machine 3A etc.
° rotate. When mounting the film F on the upper film gripping machine 3A, it is performed in the state shown in this figure.

As shown in FIG. 8, in the upper film gripping machine 3A, the lower gripping plate 31 is rotatably attached to the upper gripping plate 32. A permanent magnet 35 is provided on the lower grip plate 31, and the film F is sandwiched by the magnetic force between the grip plates 31 and 32 as indicated by the solid line.

As shown in FIG. 9, a pair of upper and lower positioning rollers 56 are provided in the vicinity of the entrance portion 60 of the film feeder 6.
A cutter 21 and an auxiliary member 22 are provided.
The positioning roller 56 is driven up and down, and when the film gripping machines (3A) and 3B move up to the standby position P4 shown by the chain double-dashed line, they are retracted as shown by the broken line. On the other hand, after the film gripping machines (3A), 3B have moved to the standby position P4 in FIG. 5, the positioning roller 56 in FIG. 9 approaches as shown by the solid line, and under the film gripping machines (3A), 3B. Positioning is performed with the grip plate 31 and the upper grip plate 32 sandwiched therebetween. The positioning roller 56 is
It is rotatably installed, and the film gripping machine (3A),
3B is guided to move toward the film feeder 6 on the right side. The cutter 21 is driven up and down after the film gripping machine 3B is retracted to cut the film F.

The film feeder 6 conveys the film F below the packaging station S (FIG. 1) and has an upper belt device 61 and a lower belt device 62. Both of the belt devices 61 and 62 are driven by a motor, and their belt surfaces 61a and 62a closely face each other. The lower belt device 62 has a belt surface 62a.
A movable plate 63 that presses against the belt surface 61a of the upper belt device 61 is provided. The movable plate 63 is slightly lifted by the operation of a solenoid valve (not shown) via a link mechanism to press the belt surface 62a against the belt surface 61a so that the film F is sandwiched between the belt surfaces 61a and 62a. .

A winding portion 64 is provided at both ends of the upper belt device 61. The winding portion 64 has a pin 64.
The roller 64b at the end portion is rotatable around a, and the spring force of the return spring (not shown) acting on the link 65a of the link mechanism 65 causes the roller 64b to be normally opened as shown in this figure. ing. On the other hand, the winding portion 64 comes into contact with the belt surface 62a of the lower belt device 62 in a state in which the film F is sandwiched as shown in FIG. . The belt width W2 of both belt devices 61 and 62 of FIG. 11 is set smaller than the cutout width W1 of the film gripping machine 3B (3A) of FIG. The interference with both belt devices 61 and 62 is prevented. Also,
The upper belt device 61 is provided with a tension roller 66.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view of the packaging machine main body 1 as seen from the side. As shown in FIG. 12, the packaging machine main body 1 includes a feed conveyor 7. The feeding conveyor 7 has a weight detecting means such as a load cell, and the tray T
The weight of the product M placed on is measured. This infeed conveyor 7
The feed claw 71a fixed to the drive belt 71 is the tray T.
Then, the product M together with the tray T is pushed into the lifter 10 by pushing the end portion of. A packaging mechanism 11 is provided above the lifter 10. The packaging mechanism 11 is the packaging station S
In, the product M is wrapped with the tray T in the film F. A sealing device 12 is arranged at the front Fo of the packaging station S. The sealing device 12 is a tray T
The film F folded on the bottom side of is heat-sealed. The pusher 13 moves the packed product M from the rear B to the front Fo.
The product M is ejected onto the sealing device 12 by pushing.

Next, each of the above components will be described in detail. The lifter 10 is arranged immediately below the packaging station S and is vertically movable. When the product M is carried in from the infeed conveyor 7, the lifter 10 rises and lifts the product M, and presses the product M against the lower surface of the film F held in a tension state at the packaging station S.

On the other hand, the film F is pre-supplied to the packaging station S in a state of being sandwiched by the film feeder 6, and when the product M is pushed up by the lifter 10, the film F comes into close contact with the upper surface of the product M. . In this state, the packaging mechanism 11 wraps the product M by folding the front, rear, left, and right side edges of the film F into the bottom surface of the tray T, as described below.

The packaging mechanism 11 includes a pair of left and right folding plates 1.
5, 15 (only one shown in FIG. 12), the rear folding plate 16, and the round bar-shaped front folding member 17. The left and right folding plates 15 and the rear folding plate 16 fold the film F on the bottom surface side of the tray T. The front folding member 17 is the rear folding plate 1.
Pusher 1 driven at a predetermined timing synchronized with 6
The side edge of the front Fo of the film F is folded into the bottom surface side of the tray T in accordance with the discharging operation of the product M by 3.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described. First, the film roll FL having a predetermined length is placed on the support roller 20 shown in FIG. Then, the right side film gripping machine 3B is moved according to the length of the film roll FL (width of the film F) in FIG. 3, and then the upper gripping plate 32 is rotated around the hinge 30 to open it, and the lower gripping plate is opened. Both ends of the front end portion F1 of the film F are sandwiched between 31 and the upper grip plate 32. After the film F is clamped, the gripper transport belt 41 of the first gripper transport device 4B is driven, and the film gripper 3B holds the film F, and the film mounting position P3 in FIG. 4 to the standby position in FIG. Ascend to P4. Subsequently, the positioning roller 56 is vertically approached, and the arm 55a of the second gripper transporting device 5 is slightly lowered downward so that the engagement pin 55 fits into and engages with the engaged member 54. After this engagement, the arm 55a slightly swings clockwise, and the slider 50 of the film gripping machine 3B moves to the right along the guide rod 53 as shown in FIG. Slide to the supply position P5. In this way, the first and second gripping machine transport devices 4B and 5 transfer the film gripping machine 3B to the film F.
The inlet portion 60 of the film feeder 6 along the unwinding path of
The film F is inserted into the inlet portion 60 of the film feeder 6 by being transported to. During the inserting operation of the film F, the winding portion 64 of the film feeder 6 is open.

After the film F is inserted, the end of the roller 64b is rotated around the pin 64a via the link 65a by the operation of a solenoid valve (not shown), and the film F is moved to the upper belt device 61 and the lower belt device. Sandwich with 62. At the same time, as shown in FIG. 10, the movable plate 63 is slightly raised so that the belt devices 61a and 62a contact each other. Here, the gripping force by the film gripping machine 3B in FIG.
The upper belt device 6 is small because it is generated by its own weight.
By driving 1 and the lower belt device 62, the film F is unwound against the gripping force of the film gripping machine 3B and supplied to the packaging station S of FIG. While unwinding and supplying the film F by the film feeder 6,
After the arm 55a of FIG. 9 swings to the left and the film gripper 3B retracts from the film supply position P5 to the standby position P4, the supply of the film F to the packaging station S is completed. After that, the cutter 21 rises and the film F is cut. After this cutting, the packaging mechanism 11 of FIG.
The predetermined packaging is performed by. After this packaging, the arm 5 in FIG. 5 slightly rotates counterclockwise, and the film gripping machine 3B
Again slides from the standby position P4 to the film supply position P5 in FIG. After that, by repeating the same operation as described above, the packaging operation is performed one after another.

As described above, the film feeding device 2
While unwinding the film F by the film feeder 6,
Since the second gripping machine transport device 5 retracts the film gripping machine 3B to the standby position P4, when one wrapping is completed,
It is not necessary for the film gripping machine 3B to go to pick up the film F. Therefore, the film gripping machine 3B can be immediately conveyed to the inlet portion 60 of the film feeder 6 and the film F can be supplied to the film feeder 6. Therefore, the film supply cycle time is shortened, and as a result, the packaging cycle time is also shortened.

By the way, in the above embodiment, the first gripping machine conveying devices 4A and 4B of FIG. 2 are the film gripping machines 3A and 3B.
Is transported from the film mounting position P3 to the standby position P4,
The second gripper transport device 5 transports the film grippers 3A and 3B to the film supply position P5 in FIG. However, the first gripping machine transport devices 4A and 4B do not necessarily have to be provided as long as the film gripping machines 3A and 3B reciprocate between the standby position P4 and the film supply position P5. For example, the film may be mounted on the film gripping machines 3A and 3B at the standby position P4.

In the above embodiment, the film roll F is used.
Although an example in which two Ls are provided on the left and right sides has been described, this packaging device may have a structure in which only one film roll FL is arranged.

[0028]

As described above, according to the present invention, the film holding machine does not go to pick up the film,
The gripped film can be supplied to the film feeder. Therefore, the film supply cycle time is shortened.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a layout diagram showing an arrangement structure of film rolls in a packaging apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a film supply device.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a gripping machine and a transfer device therefor.

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a lower first gripper transporting device as seen from the front.

FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a second gripper transporting device as seen from the front.

FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an upper first gripper transporting device as seen from the front.

FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the upper first gripping machine transport device viewed from the front side in a state where the gripping machine is rotated.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the upper first gripper transport device.

FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a method of supplying a film from a gripping machine to a film feeder.

FIG. 10 is a front view showing an end portion of the film feeder.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of the same.

FIG. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the packaging machine body as viewed from the side.

FIG. 13 is a conceptual diagram showing a conventional film supply method.

[Explanation of symbols]

3A, 3B ... Film gripping machine, 5 ... (Second) gripping machine transporting device, 6 ... Film feeder, 60 ... Inlet, F ... Film, FL ... Film roll, S ... Packaging station.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A film supply device in a packaging device for holding a film by a film feeder, unwinding the film to a packaging station above the article to be packaged, and packaging the article to be packaged with the film cut into a predetermined length. There is a film gripping machine that grips the leading end of the film, and by transporting the film gripping machine along the unwinding path of the film to the entrance of the film feeder, the film is fed to the entrance of the film feeder. A film supply device in a packaging device, which is provided with a gripping machine transporting device that inserts and retracts the film gripping machine while the film is being unwound by the film feeder.